Article Image Alt Text

No timeline has been set for local library

WAUSA — With restrictions slowly lessening for the public in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, area libraries are slowly getting into the mix of getting back on their feet.

The Lied Lincoln Township Library in Wausa is not in a hurry to reopen, according to its library director Wendy Ketelsen.

“It was decided to wait and see how things looked in June at our next meeting before we make that call,” she said.

Local residents can still utilize some of the library services, though.

“We are offering curbside pickup Monday through Thursday 1-4 p.m. and delivery on Wednesday afternoons for those people who don’t want to leave their homes. We have a large tote on the east side of the library where I put bags with the patrons books in and they leave the books they are returning in the tote. We have had many of our regular patrons take advantage of our E-books and our curbside pickup. We have also had our library Wi-Fi on 24/7 for patrons who need it. They can sit outside or in their vehicle and have access.”

The library staff is working hard to make sure nothing gets contaminated.

“We quarantine the returned books for three days before we re-shelve them,” Kettelsen said.

While the library has been closed to the public, Ketelsen has been working on a number of projects around the facility.

“I’ve shampooed all of the carpets/furniture, rearranged large sections of the library, weeded books and cleaned out the storage room and the basement,” Ketelsen said.

Still, COVID-19 has not been good for overall library activity.

“I have noticed that our checkout has dropped a bit: we are losing around 100 checkouts a month, but we have seen an increase in e-book checkouts,” Ketelsen said. “I think at first people were reading more but now that the weather is nicer, I’ve noticed a drop again. We are also going to have a virtual summer reading program this year. We are using the Reader Zone app that the Nebraska Library Commission has purchased for Nebraska libraries to use this year.”

Northeast Nebraska News Company

102 W. Main
Hartington NE 68739
402-254-3997